Volume 1, Chapter 19: Demanding the Release of a Prisoner

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Yu Siwen was stopped by Tian Yong at the entrance of the Rong’en Hall, his face pale and his temper flaring. Tian Yong was acting on Shi Zhao’s orders—no one from the Marquis of Wen’an’s residence was allowed inside Rong’en Hall. Yu Siwen’s eyes blazed with anger; he hadn’t expected that, as the heir to the Marquis of Wen’an, there would still be places within the mansion he was forbidden to enter. Yet, thinking of his precarious relationship with Shi Zhao, he restrained his impulse to storm into Rong’en Hall and called out, “Shi Zhao, come out quickly!”

Behind Yu Siwen, Yu Xuanyao peeked out cautiously, her clear eyes filled with anxiety and unease. She tugged gently at his sleeve, her voice barely above a whisper, “Brother, please don’t be angry... Pei Hong was just delivering some pastries for Sister Zhao, and since Sister Zhao is upset with me, it’s only natural she detained Pei Hong...” She looked up at the closed door of Qingyun Pavilion, a faint trace of restlessness flickering in her eyes.

Since that night, Pei Hong had not returned—she must have been caught by Shi Zhao. If Shi Zhao pried Pei Hong’s mouth open... Yu Xuanyao bit her lip, her eyes darkening with worry.

Hearing this, Yu Siwen furrowed his brows and was about to speak when a soft shuffle of footsteps came from inside Rong’en Hall. Then, a slender figure appeared at the threshold—it was Shi Zhao.

Her complexion was much rosier than a few days ago, her delicate brows furrowed as she spoke slowly, “I wonder what business the heir has to come to Rong’en Hall?”

Seeing Shi Zhao stirred a storm of emotions within Yu Siwen. He sighed heavily and pleaded, “If you refuse to forgive us, so be it. But Pei Hong only brought you some pastries and did nothing wrong. There’s no reason to detain her.”

Yu Xuanyao seized the moment to speak softly and meekly, “Sister Zhao, Pei Hong and I have depended on each other for many years. Since you have taken the path of cultivation, please show mercy and return Pei Hong to me.” She bowed lightly, her posture tinged with a subtle stubborn dignity that pained Yu Siwen deeply.

He took a breath, his tone firm and unyielding, “Pei Hong is a maid of the Marquis of Wen’an’s household. If you refuse to acknowledge that you belong to the Marquis’s residence, then you have no right to detain one of our maids.”

Yu Siwen’s tone hardened. Shi Zhao understood that Yu Xuanyao could not retrieve Pei Hong herself, so she sent Yu Siwen to stand up for her.

Shi Zhao glanced sideways at Yu Xuanyao and asked, “Pei Hong brought me pastries? How come I’ve never heard of that?”

Yu Xuanyao bit her lip, suppressing her guilt and forcing a smile, “Sister Zhao, you must be joking. Pei Hong clearly brought you pastries a few days ago.”

It didn’t matter why Pei Hong came—what mattered was finding her inside Rong’en Hall. Otherwise, Shi Zhao was unlawfully detaining a maid from the Marquis’s household.

Even if Shi Zhao claimed Pei Hong was there to steal, she had no proof!

Yu Xuanyao calmed herself and said, “Sister Zhao, please release Pei Hong. I promise I won’t hold it against you.”

Nanny Lan’s heart sank. Pei Hong was known for being extremely tight-lipped and hadn’t revealed anything valuable these past few days; under no circumstance could they let her go. Seeing young Miss Xuanyao so anxious, it was clear Pei Hong knew more than they had anticipated.

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Nanny Lan whispered, “Miss...”

Shi Zhao stood quietly and said, “I already said, Pei Hong did not bring me any pastries.”

Yu Siwen looked at Shi Zhao, his feelings complex. Just as he was about to reply, a gust of wind stirred, lifting a few fallen leaves that gently drifted onto Shi Zhao’s shoulder, accentuating her serene and graceful demeanor.

He recalled Shi Zhao as a child—his little sister who loved to act spoiled and playful around him. Unfortunately, as she grew older, her character hardened, and she lost that adorable side that once sought refuge behind him.

Suddenly, Yu Siwen felt a gentle tug on his back. Turning around, he saw Yu Xuanyao blinking her large, glossy eyes at him.

His heart softened, a surge of protectiveness swelling within his chest.

He lowered his voice and said to Shi Zhao, “Shi Zhao, I’m giving you face by not barging into Rong’en Hall to take her out. You should understand the situation.”

As the heir of the Marquis of Wen’an, Yu Siwen’s position in the household was formidable. If he wished, many servants would gladly act as his vanguard. The small door of Rong’en Hall was no barrier to them.

Everyone inside Rong’en Hall couldn’t help but change their expressions.

Yu Xuanyao’s lips curled slightly, reassured.

But then Shi Zhao casually brushed the leaves off her shoulder, raised an eyebrow, and said, “Entry to Rong’en Hall: one hundred taels of silver per person.”

What?

Yu Siwen was stunned, unwilling to believe what he’d heard.

“If you want to find Pei Hong, go search the courtyard yourselves. But this Rong’en Hall cannot accommodate all your servants.”

Shi Zhao said indifferently, “His Majesty the Emperor bestowed upon me a nightingale that cannot bear noise. Consider the silver as compensation for the bird’s comfort.”

Yu Siwen grit his back teeth, frowning deeply.

The imperial gift of a nightingale to Shi Zhao had become widely known throughout the capital these past few days.

Everyone he met congratulated the Marquis of Wen’an’s household on regaining imperial favor and admired that their adopted daughter had become a nun and gained the Empress Dowager’s favor.

Only the Marquis’s household themselves knew that Shi Zhao had already fallen out with them—any honor or favor had nothing to do with their family.

Yet before others, they had to wear smiles; behind closed doors, they ground their teeth in bitterness.

Now Shi Zhao used that bird as a shield, and Yu Siwen’s temper flared uncontrollably.

It was just a little creature... and yet dared to stand in his way...

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Just as anger surged in his eyes, Yu Xuanyao’s delicate voice sounded, “Brother, don’t...”

Yu Siwen’s reason returned instantly, and he ceased to argue with Shi Zhao.

Fortunately, he had plenty of money!

Yu Siwen snorted coldly and sent a sharp-witted young man forward. “You—go in and bring Pei Hong out.”

The young man nodded repeatedly and slipped inside Rong’en Hall with practiced ease.

Shi Zhao recognized him as someone who had long served in Rong’en Hall—a clever mind who now worked in Yu Xuanyao’s courtyard.

Xiaoxi cast a cold glare at the youth, scolding silently: ungrateful and fickle!

Shi Zhao paid him no mind, holding out her hand toward Yu Siwen. “Pay up.”

Yu Siwen, a little annoyed, didn’t expect Shi Zhao to have picked up a bit of a streetwise manner. He pulled out a one-hundred-tael silver note and said reproachfully, “A lady of noble birth should not always be talking about money.”

Shi Zhao pocketed the money, ignoring his words.

In her view, Yu Siwen was just ignorant of the cost of living.

A moment of silence fell, broken only by the young man’s footsteps and rustling as he searched back and forth.

When Yu Siwen lost patience, the young man returned, looking disheveled and confused. “Your Highness, Miss Pei Hong is not in Rong’en Hall.”

Yu Xuanyao urged anxiously, “That can’t be! Pei Hong must be here!”

Shi Zhao replied casually, “Maybe Pei Hong stole something and ran off.”

“Impossible!” Yu Xuanyao blurted out. “Did you set some kind of trap in Rong’en Hall these days?”

Shi Zhao found it amusing. “Yu Xuanyao, why are you so sure Pei Hong is definitely here?”

Because she had been sending people to watch Rong’en Hall day and night—they hadn’t let Pei Hong leave!

Yu Xuanyao nearly slipped up but quickly bit her lip and said fiercely, “Pei Hong must be here!”

Yu Siwen frowned and pulled out five hundred tael silver notes from his pocket. “We’ll send people to search again.”

Shi Zhao took the money and showed the first genuine smile she’d given Yu Siwen in days. “You’re welcome.”